As a demonstration of how little attention the national media really pays to South Dakota politics, I cite in toto Louis Jacobson’s assessment of the South Dakota Attorney General contest, published yesterday in Governing:
South Dakota: Open seat; AG Marty Jackley (R) is running for governor
In South Dakota, several Republicans are seeking the nomination. Whoever gets the nod — they’ll to be picked during the party convention June 20-23 — will be a heavy favorite over the Democratic nominee, given the state’s strong Republican leaning.
That said, if Democrats select Tatewin Means during their convention, things could get interesting. Means is a former attorney general of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and daughter of the late American Indian activist Russell Means. It’s believed that she would be the nation’s first Native American woman to be elected as a state attorney general [Louis Jacobson, “2018 Attorneys General Races: Who’s Vulnerable?” Governing, 2018.06.21].
What’s wrong with this summary?
- Marty Jackley was done running for Governor two and a half weeks ago.
- Tatewin Means was done running for A.G. one week ago.
- The purported frontrunner in this weekend’s Republican dweebiscite is a part-time lawyer and full-time campaigner who hasn’t tried a single case before a jury in his strangely acquired sinecure of “(Volunteer) Part-Time Deputy State’s Attorney.”
- Whoever the Republicans nominate faces Democratic nominee Randy Seiler, a former U.S. Attorney with more experience (start with Vietnam veteran and work up to U.S. Attorney) and more money.
- Republicans themselves admit they are afraid of Randy Seiler.
- Yes, Means would have made things interesting, but when South Dakota Republicans are quaking in their boots before a better qualified, better funded, better connected Democratic nominee, our attorney general’s race is already plenty interesting. Pay attention!
Have republicans dismissed the candidacy of John Fitzgerald for AG, we don’t seem to hear much about him.
I am sure they are already on to this, but if not, here is something for Randy and his team to mull over as they plan to defeat the GOP in the fall:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/state-attorney-general-lobbyists-donation-one-on-one-access-raga-daga/
JKC, thanks for the link. More pure GOP bribery. They love it. This country has GOT to get a constitutional amendment barring this bribery, regardless of who the briber is. Terminology– campaign donation, access, field trip, etc –is irrelevant.
Debbo, you are welcome. Our Republican friends – with the help of climate change – are hoping, I bet, to one day grow bananas in their dream republic.
Maybe Russia has already rigged the election which could explain wingnut confidence.
On a happier note. Ugly American George (I make undecipherable statements like Ryan @ DFP) Will has quit the wingnut party.